Rail anchor shipping bundle



" Aug. 22, 1944. H. s. WARR 2,356,552

I RAIL. ANCHOR SHIPPING BUNDLE Filed Nov. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2,3- ffi [a if ff Q .6

' 1; iam/g g g Au .'22, 1944. H. G, wA-RR 2,356,552

RAIL ANCHOR SHIPPING BUNDLE Filed Nov. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fivezz/az" Patented Aug. 22, 1944 'RAIL ANCHOR SHIPPING BUNDLE 7 'Harold Warnlfark Ridge, 111., assignor-to Poor i 1 v & Company, Chicago, 111,, acorpcrationofiDelaware Y Application November 16, i1942,SerialNo.-465,737 me; o1. 206-65) V This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bundles. suitable forshipping rail anchors and particularly rail anchors of onepiece "construction.

" There are-many forms ofone piece railanchors disclosed in'prior' patents and there are'several forms now being made and "sold. While these various forms may differ 'in' regard to specific constructions, their general constructions, with thB'TDOSSiblG exception 'of one or two known forms -of devices, includetwo principal features, to wit: an-=-under-railportionformed at one end with a hook shaped jaw adapted to engage over one *fiange of a railbase. Most forms of one piece rail anchor devices alsoinclude a locking means such,

"for-example, as a'shoulder or a jaw'forengagin'g theotherfiangeofthe rail base.

Heretofore'it'has'been customary to ship rail *anchor devices of the above general type in burlap*bags,"said bags being heretofore obtainable at --moderate price andwere usable as shipping containers, but-theywere'not entirely satisfactory. -For example, the size and construction of the anchor devices cannot be'determined without first -opening the'bag for'examination. If one or more bags of anchors of the wrong form or size should 'be-accidentally included in a shipment, such error cannot be detected until the bag reaches its destination and is opened bythe track-crew for dis- 'tribution along-a track or for application to the rails. Furthermore, the hook-jaw portions of anchor devices ofthecharacter mentioned when shipped in loose, non-orderly arrangement frequently become entangled with each other in such manner-as to be diificult to separate.

An object of the present invention is to overcome-the above and other difliculties encountered -in' connection with the use of burlap bags as shippin-g containers. In this connection the invention includes the provision of a bundle in which the anchor devices are so'arranged that'their con- =structionpsize and number can be determined at a glance and which will maintain theanchor de- -vices= in orderly arrangement.

Another object'is'to provide a compact bundleof rail anchor devices which may be readily and conveniently handled by workmen without undue exertion-and whichwill stand severe shocks, such as dropping during the'handling or stacking of the same for storage or shipment, without danger of displacement of the anchor devices with relaf;:tion.to each other in the bundle. A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a shipping bundle assembly in 1- to' 4 inclusive:

rality'of'tiers or courses'and" the said. tiers are. so secured together as to holdeach anchor. in relatively'fixed position in the bundle. I

A further object is to provide a bundle assembly in which the anchors areso arranged as to facilitate forming the bundlebymeans of'automati'calflly actuated-machinery andthereby minimizethe amount of labor required in forming the bundle. I Other objects and advantages'of the invention will become apparent from the'detailed description hereinafter given of the approved forms of bundles hereinafter shown In the drawings:

byway of examples.

Fig. 1 is one'approvejd'form ofbundleass'em- :bly for rail anchors.

' Fig. '2 is'a'view of the top portion of the bundle illustrated in Fig. 1 with parts of the securing "means'broken away so 'as to show an interlocked arrangement of the upper and lower tiers of anchor devices.

Fig. 3 is an end view of. the bundle assembly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating the manher in' which thejaw members of the anchor. de-

' vices fit over and have frictional engagement with supportingframe members. b

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 to further illustrate the inter-' locking relation of the anchor devices.

Fig. 5 is a View similar'to Fig. 1, but illustrating a different form'of anchordevice; and I Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing. the formbf anchor device illustrated inFig. 5.

The particular :forms' of rail anchor devices .11-

anchor shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the invention is not intended-to be restricted to the use ofthe particular forms of rail anchors shown and described,

a jaw adapted to be fitted over and frictionally engage a supporting frame in the manner herein disclosed and claimed.

- Referringfirsttothe bundle illustrated 'in Figs.

The construction of the. rail anchor shown therein may be more readily understood by reference to Fig.3. It'includes a bar T-shaped in cross-section and bent at one end into hook form, as shown at Ill. The other end of the bar is offset to form a shoulder l l. The

"bending of the hook portionis such that the cen- ;W1',1iC1r:rail:.anchor.devices- 'arearranged in-a'pluvi"5'5 trally' disposed'flange or stem l2 of the "T crosssection of the bar follows in a general way the curvature of the jaw. The end portion of the hook is formed with an inclined surface l3 which inclines at substantially 14 relative to the plane of the surface l4. During the bending of the hook portion of the bar and also during the formation of the shoulder I I, the metal is displaced slightly laterally so that when a plurality of the anchor devices are arranged side by side, as indicated in Fig. 1, they'will normally contact only at'the lateral bulges adjacent the end l of the jaw, the end ill of the jaw and the locking shoulder end II.

The bundle illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises a series of rail anchor devices, designated as a, group by the letterIA, arranged side by side in the manner shown in Fig. 1 with the laterally bulged faces Ill, H and i5 of one anchor in contact with similar portions of an adjacent anchor. A supporting frame member l6, wedge shaped in cross section, fits tightly in the bite of the" hook jaw portion of each anchor device. Preferably the member I6 is made of wood with its face F sloped to correspond substantially with the inclined inner face l3 of the jaw ID. The wedgeshaped cross-section of the frame memlberf It makes it practical to use one size of frame member for several sizes of anchor jaws. The ,wed gingengagement of the wood frame in the bite of each anchor jaw effects sufiicient frictional grip on the upper face of the anchor body and the inner surface of the jaw ID to firmly hold the anchor in position on the frame. The said gripping action of the several'anchor devices on the wood frame memberalso' forms depressions in the wood which correspond to the width of the separate anchor devices and serve as'further means for resisting lateral or other "displacement of the anchors lengthwise of the frame member. 7

Another series of rail anchors, designated B, are similarly arranged on a like frame member "16% The construction of the anchors of group i B are the same as those of group A and are designated by the same reference numerals with the addition .of the letter a. The two groups of anchorsA and B are arranged so that the depending'" ,webs I'I|'l of adjacent anchors of group A'will extend into the space between the webs H -Il of adjacent anchors of the group B to provide interlocking engagement. The interlock of the specific form of anchor shown, it will be observed, is due largely to the seating of the curved lower edges ofthe rigidifying ribs I|:and Il as 'the'cas'e may be, of one group of anchors between the spaced apart edges of the l. anchor bodies, of the other group; the said I"anchorbodies being held in such spaced relaftion by'the bulges" l0, II and I5 (see Fig. 1).

" "After the two tiers of anchor devices are arran'g'e'd in their interlocked relation, as shown, a'locking -member I8'is positioned in the V- 'shaped space (see Fig. 3) defined by the curved outer surfaces of the hook ends of the opposing anchors. This locking member is preferably rectangular or otherwise formedwith a portion I9 for extending. into the V-shaped space previ- "ousl jldefined, The said locking member is'preferably made of wood of. suitable hardness so that f it will withstand the normal strains imposed in service. The opposite ends of the locking member l8 and likewise the'opposite ends of theframe members Iii-H5 are provided with suitable grooves 20,. 2| and 2| for receiving binding wires; 22" '2 2. Said binding wires are looped about the ends of the members I6, l6 and [8 to bind these members tightly together in a general triangular arrangement and thereby bind firmly together the anchor devices. The ends of the binding wires are preferably united by means of twist connections 2323. The position of the wires in contact with the anchor device at opposite ends of the bundle together with the grooves in the frame and locking'members serve to prevent movement of any portion of the I bundle lengthwise of the frame member.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified arrangement of anchor devices of a different construction disposed in orderly arrangement to form a bundle similar to that described and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

In the modified embodiment the anchor devices are made from stock rectangular in crosssection. Each anchor comprises a bar bent at one end into hook configuration to provide upper :and lower jaws 24-25.. The body portion 26 is .provided with a bowed configuration, substantially' a indicated atf21, and the other end of thebar is formed with a locking shoulder. The

shoulder has no particular functionin'the present bundle construction, but is adapted to snap over one edge of the 'rail base to hold the anchor device fixed to the rail. A The anchor devices are arranged in two series of groups, designated C and-Dl The hook end portions of all anchors in group C are fitted over and wedgingly engage the upper edge portion of aframe member 28. The frame member 28 may be, and preferably is, the same in construction as previously described frame member, lfi'except that the grooves 2| are formed in the lower edge only of the frame. The anchor devices of group D are similarly mounted on a wedge shaped frame member 28* and the two groups of anchors are arranged back to back, as shown in Fig. 6. A locking bar ZS, preferably of rectangular configuration in cross-section, is seated with one of its edges Wedging intothe V-s'haped portion definedI by thef oppositely curved hook' portions of. the opposed anchors. Binding wires 30-36 are then looped about the opposite ends of the frame members 28-28 and locking memberi29. The said wire loops 3030 fit into'thegrooves 2ll2l of the frame members 28 28 and into the grooves 3l of the member '29. The binding wires 30 30. are arranged 'so that their portions'designated 32, 33 and 34 will be in contact with surfaces of the anchor devices disposed at the endsof each seriesC and'D, and therefore provide abutments" for the anchor devices which will resist any tendency whichthe'anchors might have toshift lengthwise of the frame members 28- 28.- The ends of the. wires 3il3il are connected by a twist con- 'nection' 35, whereby the member 28, 23 and 29 are held bound tightly together in a general triangular arrangement and thereby bind firmly togetherthe anchors of both groupsiC and D.

While the inventionis illustrated in connection with two specific embodiments of rail anchor devices, it will be apparent thatsimi- 'lar bundles may be formed with anchors of different constructions. It will be understood, therefore, that the claimsaccompanying this specification are not to be limited to the specific constructions herein shown and described except insofar as limitations may appear in the said claims.

i. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors arranged in parallel relation, each anchor having a body portion formed at one end with a hook, a frame member arranged transversely of the anchors and having a wedge shaped portion extending into the recesses defined by their hook portions to provide frictional engagement therewith, and means including a bar engaging the anchors at a location spaced from the frame and wire loop members connected therewith for holding said anchors in fixed position on said frame.

2. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors engaged in parallel arrangement, each having a body portion formed at one end with a hook, a frame member arranged transversely of the anchors and having a wedge shaped portion extending into the recesses defined by their hook portions to provide frictional engagement therewith, and means including a bar engaging the outer portions of said hooks and wire 100p members connecting said bar with said frame so as to hold the anchors in fixed position on the frame.

3. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors arranged in parallel relation, each anchor having a body portion formed at one end with a hook, a frame member arranged trans versely of said anchors and having wedging engagement in the hook portions of said anchors, a second group of anchors arranged in parallel relation and having portions of their outer surfaces engaging portions of the outer surfaces of the anchors of the first mentioned group, a frame member having wedging engagement in the hook portion of the second group of anchors, and binding means engaging the ends of said frame members to hold the anchor devices in position thereon and in frictional engagement with each other.

4. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors arranged in parallel relation, each anchor having a body portion formed at one end with a hook, a frame member arranged transversely of said anchors and having wedging engagement with the hook portions of said anchors, a second group of anchors arranged in parallel relation and having portions of their outer surfaces engaging portions of the outer surfaces of the anchors of the first mentioned group, a frame member having wedging engagement in the hook portion of the second group of anchors, and

binding means comprising strands of wire engaging the ends of said frame members to hold said frames in firm relation to each other and to clamp the anchor devices in frictional engagement with each other.

5. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors arranged in parallel relation, each anchor having a body portion formed at one end with a hook, a frame member arranged transversely of said anchors having wedging engagement in the hook portion of said anchors, a second group of anchors arranged in parallel relation and having portions of their outer surfaces engaging portions of the outer surfaces of the anchors of the first mentioned group, a frame member having wedging engagement in the hook portions of the second group of anchors, a bar positioned to engage corresponding outer surfaces of the anchors of both groups, and binding means extending around the end portions of the frame members and said bar to hold the anchor devices clamped in position.

6. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors arranged in parallel relation, each anchor having a body portion formed at one end with a hook and having a rigidifying rib extending outwardly from the said body and hook, a Wood frame arranged transversely of said anchors and having wedging engagement in the hook portions of said anchors, a second group of anchors arranged in interlocked relation with the anchor bodies and ribs of the first group, and binding means engaging the ends of said frame members to hold the anchor devices in frictional engagement with each other.

7. A rail anchor bundle comprising two groups of rail anchors arranged back to back, each anchor having a body portion formed at one end with a hook and having a rigidifying rib extending outwardly from said body and hook, wood frame members extending lengthwise of said groups and having wedging engagement in the hook portions of the anchors of its associated group, a wood bar extending transversely of the anchors in the space defined by the diverging rib portions of opposing groups, and strands of binding wire drawn tightly around the end portions of the frame members and said bar to clamp the frame members in fixed relation and to clamp said bar firmly against the rigidifying rib portions of all anchors of the bundle.

8. A rail anchor bundle comprising two groups of rail anchors arranged back to back in parallel arrangement, each anchor having a bowed body portion and having a hook portion at one end of the body, wood frame members arranged transversely of the anchors and having wedging engagement in the hook portions of the anchors of each group, a Wood bar extending transversely of the anchors in the space defined by the diverging surfaces of the hook portions of opposed anchor devices, and strands of binding wire drawn tightly around the end portions of the frame members and said bar to clamp the frame members in fixed relation and to clamp said bar firmly against the I curved portions of said anchors.

9. A rail anchor bundle comprising a group of rail anchors arranged in parallel relation, each anchor comprising a bar, rectangular in cross section formed with an outwardly bowed body portion and provided at one end with a body with a hook shaped bend, a wedge shaped supporting frame inserted in and having wedging fit in the recess defined by the hook portion of each anchor, and means engaging the said frame member and said anchors for maintaining them in fixed position on the supporting frame.

HAROLD G. WARR. 

